United States Sea Freight Forwarding Market Outlook 2026–2034

The United States sea freight forwarding market is poised for steady, though moderate, expansion over the next decade. According to Renub Research, the market is expected to grow from US$ 22.68 billion in 2025 to US$ 34.85 billion by 2034, registering a CAGR of 4.89% during 2026–2034.

This growth trajectory reflects the United States’ sustained reliance on global trade, rising containerized cargo volumes, and the increasing need for professional logistics coordination in an increasingly complex international supply chain environment.

While growth is described as sluggish compared to high-growth logistics segments, sea freight forwarding remains a foundational pillar of the U.S. trade ecosystem. From consumer goods and manufacturing inputs to healthcare supplies and textiles, ocean freight continues to dominate long-distance bulk transportation due to cost efficiency and scalability.

Understanding Sea Freight Forwarding in the U.S. Context

Sea freight forwarding refers to the management and coordination of cargo shipments transported by ocean carriers. Freight forwarders act as intermediaries between exporters, importers, shipping lines, customs authorities, and port operators. Their services typically include:

  • Cargo booking and space allocation

  • Documentation and customs coordination

  • Warehousing and consolidation

  • Inland transportation

  • Shipment tracking and risk management

In the United States, sea freight forwarding plays a strategic role because of the country’s extensive coastline and major port infrastructure along the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. With high trade volumes moving through coastal gateways, professional forwarding services are essential to ensure compliance, cost control, and timely delivery.

Sea freight is particularly suited for:

  • Full Container Load (FCL) shipments

  • Less-than Container Load (LCL) cargo

  • Bulk commodities

  • Heavy or non-urgent goods

Given the cost advantages compared to air freight, ocean forwarding remains indispensable for large-scale global trade.

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Market Growth Drivers

1. Expansion of International Trade and Import Volumes

International trade remains the primary engine powering the U.S. sea freight forwarding market. The United States continues to rank among the world’s largest importers and exporters of goods. Ocean shipping dominates bulk commodity flows, consumer goods imports, machinery exports, and industrial components.

Recent trade data highlights the scale of opportunity. In March 2025 alone, U.S. exports reached USD 278.5 billion while imports totaled USD 419.0 billion. Such massive trade volumes naturally require coordinated shipping, customs clearance, and multimodal logistics management—functions handled by freight forwarders.

As businesses diversify sourcing strategies and expand global trade partnerships, reliance on experienced freight forwarding firms intensifies. Every incremental rise in import and export activity directly translates into additional forwarding demand.

2. Retail, E-Commerce, and FMCG Supply Chain Growth

The rapid expansion of retail and e-commerce has significantly strengthened the sea freight forwarding market. Retailers and online marketplaces depend on ocean freight to import large product volumes from Asia, Europe, and Latin America.

Sea freight forwarders assist with:

  • Inventory planning for seasonal peaks

  • Coordination with overseas suppliers

  • Consolidation of multi-supplier shipments

  • Distribution to U.S. fulfillment centers

The growth of omnichannel retailing, private-label brands, and direct-to-consumer sales models increases the complexity of logistics operations. As retailers aim to optimize shipping costs while maintaining product availability, freight forwarders become critical supply chain partners.

3. Rising Demand for Integrated Logistics Services

Modern businesses increasingly prefer end-to-end logistics solutions rather than isolated transportation services. In response, sea freight forwarders now offer bundled services that include:

  • Ocean transportation

  • Inland trucking and rail coordination

  • Warehousing and distribution

  • Customs brokerage

  • Real-time shipment tracking

Integrated logistics improves supply chain visibility, reduces delays, and lowers overall operational costs. Companies benefit from working with a single logistics provider capable of managing complex international shipments from origin to destination.

This structural shift toward integrated logistics strengthens the strategic relevance of freight forwarders and supports sustained market growth.

Market Challenges

Port Congestion and Infrastructure Constraints

Despite strong trade volumes, operational bottlenecks remain a significant challenge. Major U.S. ports periodically experience congestion due to:

  • Rising container volumes

  • Labor shortages

  • Infrastructure limitations

  • Equipment imbalances

Congestion disrupts delivery timelines, complicates inventory planning, and increases costs. Freight forwarders must often reroute shipments or coordinate alternative inland transportation, increasing operational complexity.

While infrastructure investments continue, congestion risks remain a limiting factor, especially during peak seasons.

Freight Rate Volatility and Cost Pressures

Global ocean freight rates fluctuate based on fuel prices, geopolitical tensions, vessel capacity imbalances, and demand cycles. These unpredictable rate shifts create pricing challenges for freight forwarders and their clients.

Forwarders must balance competitiveness with profitability while managing customer expectations. Smaller and mid-sized companies are particularly vulnerable to sudden cost increases, which can compress margins and elevate financial risk.

Segment Analysis

Full Container Load (FCL) Market

The FCL segment represents a significant share of U.S. sea freight forwarding. Under this model, a single shipper occupies an entire container, ensuring:

  • Enhanced cargo security

  • Faster transit times

  • Lower per-unit shipping costs

Manufacturers, wholesalers, and exporters handling bulk commodities, electronics, and machinery often prefer FCL due to predictability and efficiency. As global trade volumes grow, the FCL segment is expected to maintain strong demand momentum.

Transportation and Warehousing Services

Integrated transportation and warehousing services are becoming increasingly important. Freight forwarders now operate near major ports, offering:

  • Cargo consolidation and deconsolidation

  • Inventory management

  • Distribution center operations

  • Multimodal connectivity

This segment benefits from growing distribution hubs near coastal areas, supporting improved transit efficiency and reduced supply chain complexity.

Retail and FMCG Vertical

Retail and FMCG industries remain consistent demand generators. Apparel, consumer electronics, packaged foods, and household goods move primarily through ocean freight due to scale and cost considerations.

Forwarders help retailers manage:

  • Customs compliance

  • Seasonal inventory surges

  • Efficient port-to-warehouse transport

Given the continuous evolution of consumer demand, this vertical will remain a cornerstone of forwarding revenue.

Healthcare Segment

Healthcare freight forwarding involves shipping medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare supplies. While urgent shipments may use air freight, sea freight remains viable for non-urgent bulk goods.

Key requirements include:

  • Regulatory compliance

  • Temperature-controlled containers

  • Secure documentation

  • Traceability systems

With rising healthcare manufacturing and import activities, demand for specialized forwarding solutions continues to expand.

Textile and Apparel Market

The U.S. textile and apparel industry heavily relies on international sourcing. Ocean freight provides the most economical solution for high-volume, low-margin garment shipments.

Freight forwarders manage supplier coordination, documentation, and seasonal shipment timing to prevent stock shortages. As apparel brands diversify sourcing regions, experienced forwarders play a crucial supply chain role.

Manufacturing Sector

Manufacturing is a core demand driver, covering automotive parts, machinery, chemicals, and industrial equipment. Sea freight enables cost-effective import of raw materials and export of finished goods.

Manufacturers depend on forwarders for:

  • Container logistics

  • Customs management

  • Multimodal transportation

  • Timely coordination

The regularity and volume of manufacturing shipments ensure steady market demand.

Regional Insights

California

California remains the largest and most dynamic sea freight forwarding hub due to its Pacific trade access. It serves as a primary gateway for Asian imports and agricultural exports.

High trade volumes, container handling capabilities, and strong retail demand solidify California’s leadership position.

New York

New York functions as a critical node for transatlantic trade. High-value consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, and textiles flow through this region.

Well-established infrastructure and proximity to financial and commercial centers support steady forwarding demand.

Washington

Washington’s export-oriented economy—driven by agriculture, forestry, and manufacturing—fuels strong sea freight demand. Forwarders focus heavily on export logistics efficiency and documentation management.

New Jersey

New Jersey acts as a logistics and distribution hub for the northeastern U.S. Its proximity to major East Coast ports and consumer markets supports integrated port handling, warehousing, and inland distribution services.

Competitive Landscape

Key companies operating in the U.S. sea freight forwarding market include:

  • Agility Logistics

  • Bolloré Logistics

  • C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc.

  • CEVA Logistics

  • Deutsche Bahn AG

  • Deutsche Post AG

  • Expeditors International

  • Geodis

  • Hellmann Worldwide Logistics SE & Co. KG

  • Kerry Logistics Network Limited

Companies are evaluated across five major viewpoints:

  • Company Overview

  • Key Personnel

  • Recent Developments

  • SWOT Analysis

  • Revenue Analysis

Competition focuses on digitalization, integrated logistics capabilities, geographic expansion, and service reliability.

Market Segmentation

By Type:

  • Full Container Load (FCL)

  • Less-than Container Load (LCL)

  • Others

By Services:

  • Packaging and Labelling

  • Documentation and PO Management

  • Charter Services

  • Transportation and Warehousing

  • Others

By Vertical:

  • Retail and FMCG

  • Manufacturing

  • Consumer Appliances

  • Healthcare

  • Textile

  • Others

By Top States:
California, Texas, New York, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia, New Jersey, Washington, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Virginia, Michigan, Maryland, Colorado, Tennessee, Indiana, Arizona, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Missouri, Connecticut, South Carolina, Oregon, Louisiana, Alabama, Kentucky, and Rest of United States.

Final Thoughts

The United States sea freight forwarding market may not be experiencing explosive growth, but it remains a resilient and strategically essential sector within the broader logistics ecosystem. With Renub Research projecting growth from US$ 22.68 billion in 2025 to US$ 34.85 billion by 2034, the industry’s 4.89% CAGR reflects sustained trade activity, rising containerization, and the structural importance of integrated logistics solutions.

While port congestion and freight rate volatility pose operational challenges, long-term fundamentals remain strong. Expanding global trade relationships, e-commerce growth, manufacturing resilience, and demand for end-to-end logistics services will continue to anchor the market.

As global supply chains become more interconnected and compliance-driven, sea freight forwarders are evolving from intermediaries into strategic logistics partners—positioning the industry for steady progress through 2034 and beyond.